Thrift Shops Volunteers

So many ways to help

Housing Works depends on the generosity of volunteers in our fight to end AIDS and homelessness. Our thrift shops cannot run without the commitment and hard work of our staff and volunteers.

Volunteers like you started our very first thrift shop in Chelsea and continue to support us to this day in our shops. By volunteering at a Housing Works Thrift shop, you are directly responsible for providing funding to New Yorkers affected by homelessness and HIV/AIDS.

We’re always on the lookout for dynamic and friendly people to help provide great customer service and an outstanding thrifting experience in our shops. Volunteers will accept merchandise donations, assist customers at our fitting rooms, refill and organize our clothing racks and housewares shelves, assist to merchandise the shop, and work with staff on a wide variety of special projects. Each volunteer is trained to have knowledge of each area of the shop, and each person’s volunteer experience can be tailored to their personal skills and interests.

We invite you to become part of our thrift shop family.

Volunteer Sales Associate
The Volunteer Sales Associate works to provide first-rate customer and donor services, maximizing sales and to support the daily operations of their respective Thrift Shop. Essential Job Functions include, but are not limited to assist with marketing the Shop in your neighborhood, conducting and completing sales, process donated merchandise, maintaining cleanliness and organization of sales floor, and ensure that inventory and pricing guidelines are complied with and maintained.

Our current priority need for volunteers are in the following Thrift locations: Buy The Bag, Columbus, Yorkville.

Also as a Housing Works Volunteer, you are encouraged to participate in any and all advocacy and activist activities. We hold rallies and civil disobedience actions wherever we can have a meaningful impact on pressing issues that affect homeless people and families living with HIV & AIDS.

Pre-requistes: Future Volunteers must fill out online form (link is below) and attend our Volunteer Information Session (click here to see the list of upcoming Info Sessions). You must be able to commit to volunteer for one (1) four-hour shift per 7 day work week for a minimum of 6 moths. Shop hours vary and shift times can be flexible, for store hours, click on the store of your interest on the navbar on the right. Must be 16 and over to apply independently. Young people aged 14 and 15 must obtain working papers from their school and parent’s permission before attending a session.

Merchandise Processing Volunteer
Our Merchandise Processing Volunteers help out at our Processing & Distribution Center (PDC) where we receive donated merchandise (clothing, jewelry, dishware, etc.) to be sorted, tagged, and organized for delivery to our Thrift Shops city-wide. Volunteering at our PDC is a great way to contribute to Housing Works’ mission and is ideal for students and corporate groups.

Our Volunteers

OUR MISSIONHousing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.